Drive By
by Train
Summary
"Drive By" by Train is about longing and the complicated feelings that come with love. It explores a mix of regret and hope as the narrator reflects on a past relationship and the deep connection that still lingers.
Full Analysis
The song revolves around the themes of love, nostalgia, and vulnerability. The narrator is caught between memories of a past romance and the desire to reconnect. There's a sense of regret for not being able to fully embrace the relationship before, but also a glimmer of hope that maybe things can change. The lyrics capture the bittersweet nature of love, where the past can haunt you, but there's also the possibility to start anew.
Verse 1
On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true 'cause
You moved to west L.A., or New York or Santa Fe
Or wherever, to get away from me
In this verse, the narrator sees someone who reminds him of a past love. It’s a moment of déjà vu that brings back strong memories. The mention of her moving away highlights a sense of loss. He feels like she left to escape him, which adds a layer of sadness and regret to the situation. The street symbolizes familiarity, but now it’s filled with a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.
Chorus
*Oh, but that one night, was more than just right / I didn't leave you 'cause I was all through / Oh, I was overwhelmed, and
Full Lyrics
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Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true 'cause
You moved to west L.A., or New York or Santa Fe
Or wherever, to get away from me
Oh, but that one night, was more than just right
I didn't leave you 'cause I was all through
Oh, I was overwhelmed, and frankly scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy, looking for a two-ply Hefty bag
To hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me, mhmm the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
On the upside of a downward spiral
My love for you went viral
And I loved you every mile you drove away
But now here you are again
So let's skip the, "How you been?"
And get down to the "More than friends" at last
Oh, but that one night, is still the highlight
I didn't need you, until I came to
And I was overwhelmed, and frankly scared as hell
Because I really fell for you
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy, looking for a two-ply Hefty bag
To hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me, mhmm the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Please believe that when I leave
There's nothing up my sleeve but love for you
And a little time to get my head together too
On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's déjà vu
But I thought this can't be true, 'cause
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy, looking for a two-ply Hefty bag
To hold my love
When you move me, everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me, mhmm the way you do me
Oh, I swear to you, I'll be there for you
This is not a drive by
